Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear you have here. The definition of the word
you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From make a silk purse of a sow's ear, with the common perception of swine as unrefined, dirty, or base creatures.
Proverb
you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear
- It is not possible to produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.
Synonyms
Translations
it is not possible to produce something refined from something which is unrefined
- Afrikaans: al dra 'n aap 'n goue ring, hy is en bly 'n lelike ding (af) (literally “the monkey remains ugly even when he wears a golden ring.”)
- Arabic: please add this translation if you can
- Chinese:
- Cantonese: please add this translation if you can
- Mandarin: please add this translation if you can
- Dutch: al draagt een aap een gouden ring, het is en blijft een lelijk ding (nl)
- Finnish: ei paska punniten parane (vulgar), roskasta ei saa kultaa
- French: le singe est toujours singe, fût-il vêtu de pourpre
- German: man kann aus einem Ackergaul kein Rennpferd machen, man kann aus einem Esel kein Rennpferd machen
- Greek: τον γάιδαρο, όσο και να τον στολίσεις, άλογο δεν γίνεται (ton gáidaro, óso kai na ton stolíseis, álogo den gínetai)
- Polish: i w Paryżu nie zrobią z owsa ryżu (pl) (even in Paris they cannot make rice from oats)
- Portuguese: please add this translation if you can
- Russian: от оси́ны не родя́тся апельси́ны (ru) (ot osíny ne rodjátsja apelʹsíny), из говна конфетку не сделаешь (iz govna konfetku ne sdelaješʹ)
- Spanish: aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda (es)
|
See also